Gregg Popovich, legendary San Antonio Spurs coach, admits learning from
Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens
圣城老帅 Pop 承认偷学波士顿少帅 Brad Stevens 的招术
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. – Gregg Popovich is universally regarded as one of the
world’s finest basketball coaches, maybe the very best. But in years prior
to this one, the San Antonio Spurs coach sometimes tuned into mid-major
college games looking to improve.
“When (the Butler Bulldogs) were on TV, I watched the game to see what I
could pick up, to see what (now-Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens) did,
because he did such a fine job,” Popovich said Wednesday before his Spurs
downed Boston, 104-93.
Pop 公认是地球上数一数二的篮球教练，搞不好说最强的也不为过，
但这位传奇教头却说，这几年他会收看大学的球赛以求进步。
“有巴特勒大学（斗牛犬队）转播的时侯，我会好好看有什么撇步可学，
我会观察 Brad Stevens 教练（现为塞尔提克主教，年36）的球风，
因为他教练当得真的有厉害。”Pop 说。
Coaches will search just about anywhere for advice. The practice is nothing
new. Erik Spoelstra has attended Oregon football practices and Stevens
considers Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy one of his greatest influences.
Stevens has said he brings a notebook even when watching a high school game,
just in case he spots a set he wants to adopt.
But Popovich revealed a lot of respect for Stevens – and for Celtics
president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who hired Stevens in July
after the coach spent six seasons at Butler.
“I think we don’t see it enough, where ownership and GMs will actually look
and say, ‘Who is coaching well?’ rather than ‘What name can I bring or
what would this do or that?’” Popovich said. “But actually look around the
country – it doesn’t matter what level – and say, ‘This guy is doing a
hell of a job right here.’ Or maybe from another country: ‘This guy is
doing a hell of a job.’ Whatever it might be. And Danny did that, so he
deserves a lot of credit for it.”
好的教练为了增进功力，油锅刀山也敢去。
跑到别人的场子观摩不是什么鲜事了，这招 Erik Spo 就用过，
他曾远赴奥勒冈州去鸭队（the Ducks, 美式足球队）取经。
而超塞少帅 Brad Stevens 心目中影响他最大的，
则是印地安拿波利斯小马队（the Colts, 美式足队队）的教练 Tony Dungy。
他甚至看高中生比赛时也会拿着笔电，以便看到妙招时可以赶紧画起来。
Pop 则表示了对塞尔提克新主教 Brad Stevens 的万分敬意，
他一手扶起巴特勒大学篮球队，经营五年后连两年打进NCAA总冠军赛。
对其篮球事务部总裁 Danny Ainge 招揽此人也大感佩服。
“我觉得联盟里这种状况其实还不够多，
就是老板和总管真的问对问题：‘谁教练当得得好？’
而不是‘我把这个谁和那个谁找来，看看效果怎样？’”
“哪个联盟不重要，要从全国去看、去找，
如果觉得‘哇，他可以把这队搞起来实在太厉害了’那就该用他。
或者从外国去找这种‘把队伍搞得有声有色’的人，
国内外是其次，哪种联盟也是其次，工作本身才是重点。
Ainge 做到了，他值得我大声喝采。”Pop 有感而发。
When told Popovich used to watch Butler games to see if he could learn
something, Stevens quipped, “Yeah, and the answer was no.”
But Popovich noted a lot he respected about those Butler teams, which Stevens
twice brought to the national championship game.
“It’s a really kind thing for him to say,” said Stevens. “He’s at the
top of our profession. I don’t think there’s any question about it, in a
number of ways.
听到 Pop 曾看他比赛学新把戏时，Stevens 很谦逊：
“他学不到什么东西啊，因为没有什么我会的是他不会的。
不过真是很感谢他的金口，他已经是教练这行的极致了，
很多层面来说他都是极致，这点我深信不疑。”
The Popovich stamp of approval is like a young rapper getting a co-sign from
Jay-Z. But still, Stevens’ NBA coaching record sits at 4-9 after falling to
the Spurs.
No worries, according to Popovich, who said Stevens needs no advice because he
’s “already a good coach in his own stead.”
“In this league, with the number of games and as talented as teams are …
patience is probably a big commodity, especially in someone’s situation who
’s used to winning night after night after night,” Popovich said. “It’s a
little bit different when you’re rebuilding a program, and so patience on
everybody’s part is really important. Danny (Ainge) has it and he
understands the situation. All it will do is improve as time goes on,
guaranteed.”
有了 Pop 的认可，就像年轻的饶舌乐手获得 Jay-Z 的肯定一样。
不过 Brad Stevens 的战绩目前是普普的五胜五败。
但别担心，根据 Pop 的说法，
Stevens 不需要别人乱出主意，
因为他已经証明过自己的本事。
“在 NBA，尽管比赛那么多，球队那么优，耐心还是很重要，
尤其是像 Stevens 这样以前日复一日在赢球的人。
“如果你的球队在重建期又不同了，这时侯球队里的每一方，
老板、总管、教练、球员的耐心就变得非常重要。
ainge 很有耐心，他了状况。塞尔提克绝对会进步。”Pop 表示。